Three Bars Ranch Riding Vacations Offer Great Value Due To Weak Canadian Dollar

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Travelers who enjoy outdoor adventures and riding vacations should make plans to take a Canadian guest ranch vacation this year.

three bars river

Overlooking the River at Three Bars Ranch

For U.S. travelers, one U.S. dollar now buys $1.27 CAD in goods and services as of this posting, making a Canadian guest ranch vacation an incredible value. The last time exchange rates were this favorable was almost six years ago, according to XE.com.

“The favorable exchange rate has the effect of putting Canadian vacations on sale, allowing Americans to stretch their vacation budgets and giving them a substantial boost in purchasing power,” says Tyler Beckley, owner of Three Bars Ranch. The current exchange rate may also make 2015 a good year for Canadians to vacation closer to home, allowing travelers to get more for their money as well.

Voted Canada’s top guest ranch for the last five years, British Columbia’s Three Bars Ranch is the ultimate adventure ranch of the Canadian Rockies. Set in North America’s spectacular Crown of the Continent region between Glacier National Park and Banff, Three Bars Ranch offers horseback riding for all levels of riders from beginners to experts. The ranch provides one of the most complete customized all-inclusive vacation packages available, offering complimentary activities like horseback riding, river rafting, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and tennis as part of their program.

“With summer just around the corner, 2015 is shaping up to be the best year yet to experience a Canadian guest ranch vacation,” says Tyler Beckley, owner of Three Bars Ranch. The dude ranch is currently seeing strong demand from couples, families and multigenerational groups and weeks are booking quickly. “With the weak Canadian dollar, there is no better time to visit and get a great deal on a family riding vacation,” says Beckley.

The Three Bars Ranch vacation experience offers a wealth of activities for all interests and age groups. Twice-daily horseback rides, river rafting, hiking, mountain biking, gold panning, world-class fly fishing, and family-style meals are all part of Three Bars’ customized, inclusive approach to Canadian riding vacations. Additional adventure activities such as ATVing and skeet shooting are also available. The attractive facilities and upscale log cabins at Three Bars Ranch make it an excellent choice for a family riding vacation, active multigenerational vacation or family reunion.

For many travelers, combining horseback riding with breathtaking scenery adds up to the ultimate active vacation. Set on 1,200 acres in the magnificent Canadian Rockies with an additional 68,000 acres available for horseback riding and outdoor adventures, Three Bars Ranch delivers all that and more. Many guests also combine their guest ranch stay with a visit to nearby Banff, Lake Louise, or Glacier National Park. Three Bars Ranch is easily accessible from a variety of domestic and international airports, many of which are located close to these spectacular park areas.

Vacationers who are looking for even more value should take advantage of the lower rates offered during Three Bars’ spring season, from May 27 to June 27, 2015. “The early season is a great time to come to Three Bars Ranch,” says Tyler Beckley. “The rates are lower, airfares are cheaper, the weather is spectacular, and everything is green – making it a beautiful time of year to visit.” In addition, the current favorable exchange rate makes a Canadian riding vacation during this time period an even better deal for U.S. travelers.

Learning How to Ride a Horse – Three Bars Guest Ranch

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Learning How to Ride a Horse at Three Bars  Guest Ranch

Tyler Blue ShirtNot everyone that books a Guest Ranch vacation comes from a horse related background, that is why we are here to help you learn how to ride a horse. There are often guests that have never had the opportunity to pat a horse, let alone climb up into the saddle. Here at Three Bars we are happy to help, we teach a lot of people how to ride. Three Bars looks at many factors when choosing the appropriate horse for each rider.

Tyler Beckley, Ranch Manager and Owner, takes us through some of the steps that helps make that lifelong connection between Horse and Rider happen at Three Bars..

 

First riding lesson at three bars ranchQ: What information do you take into consideration when selecting a horse for your beginner riders?

Our guests provide information to us at the time of making a reservation. This information includes: Age, Physical Stature, Riding Ability and Confidence. We also take the opportunity to talk to each of our guests upon arrival. These conversations allow us to gain insight into specific concerns each person has about the riding experience. All of these factors give us the opportunity to select the perfect horse for each riding individual. Luckily we have over 100 horses on the property to choose from.

 

 

begginer learning how to ride a horseQ: What makes your riding program at Three Bars different from those at other ranches for beginner riders?

Safety is paramount at Three Bars. We want to ensure a safe, positive experience for all riders, not just our beginners. This begins with the horse! The horses here at Three Bars are hand selected by the Beckley Family. We are very fortunate to have some of the best tail horses anywhere.  The second component is the Wrangling/Guide staff. Each Wrangler is trained to provide lessons, both in the arena and out on the trail. By providing our guests with riding techniques, we feel we are able to  solidify or possibly improve a riders technique. A unique feature Three Bars has is that we are able to send many rides out at a time that cater to very specific needs. Each ride consists of no more than 6 guests max and a qualified wrangler. Our Guest to Wrangler ratio is what allows us to tailor each ride to suit the needs of our Guests. On any given morning, we take up to 9 rides out. These rides vary from a short 1 hour ride for those that request it, walking rides, trotting rides, fast rides (trotting and loping), lesson rides, adult only rides, kid’s rides and everything in between. We also run a full lesson program to help you learn how to ride better.

 

 

horse back lesson ride to riverQ: What are the actual trails like?

We have a lot of diversity in our terrain right on the ranch, and in the forested land that surrounds us. We have the ability to ride on the flat, through the water, climb the mountain located behind the ranch and any combination in between. As we have many trails and 60,000 acres, there is somewhere new to explore every day. The scenery is unique and breathtaking.

 

 

family learns to ride a horse Q: Why do you select a horse for each rider for the duration of their stay?

We believe building a strong partnership between horse and rider allows our guests to have a positive experience when riding at the Ranch. Many of our return guests will request the same horse that they had the previous trip as the bond they created is such a memorable one. That being said, if our guests at any time would like to switch horses, we will do everything we can to accommodate that request.

 

Combining the Calgary Stampede with a Three Bars Ranch vacation

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The Calgary Stampede – “The greatest outdoor show on earth” runs for ten days every year in early July (July 4th – 13th for 2014). While there are thousands of shows and exhibits to see, the highlights are the rodeo, grand stand show and my favorite – the chuck wagon races. 1 or 2 days at the Stampede are a must if you are going to be in Calgary in early July. Many of our guests visit the stampede for a night or two either before or after their visit here at the ranch. It is recommended that you book both rodeo tickets and hotels as early as possible, as both sell out quickly. The stampede also showcases major concerts and tickets are in hot demand. Details on the Calgary Stampede can be found at cs.calgarystampede.com

Tips
Be sure to book you chuck wagon tickets with your package. They are not included in all packages and are a highlight of the event.

Traffic in Calgary can be a mess, so try to use the public transit system or C-Train to access the grounds. It will save you a lot of hassle. Even better if you can stay in a hotel close to a station.

How to get to Three Bars Guest Ranch

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There are several great option to consider, depending where you travel from and how much time you have. Flying into Cranbrook (YXC) is a great option for getting to the ranch as fast as possible. Both Air Canada and Pacific Coastal offer service into Cranbrook multiple times per day via Calgary and Vancouver. We do offer a free shuttle to and from the Cranbrook Airport.

Another Canadian option is flying into Calgary, Alberta (YYC) and driving to the ranch. You could extend your vacation and drive through Banff National Park and Lake Louise. This northern route offers incredible recreational opportunities, if you have an extra night or two. Banff and Lake Louise offer, including many different hiking trails. Roads conditions are usually very good and there are lots of great hotels and resorts in the Banff Nation Park. I personally like the Rim Rock Resort, just outside the town of Banff. It is a 4.5-hour drive from the Calgary airport to Three Bars Guest Ranch.

Vancouver is another option if you are taking an extended vacation. It is a 10-hour drive from Vancouver to Three Bars Guest Ranch, so it is best to break it up into a few days. There are many things to see and do along the way; several national parks, vineyards, lakes, etc.. This route gives you the option of travelling north on Hwy 5 and Hwy 1, or taking Hwy 3 along the southern route of the province.

If you are travelling from the U.S., we suggest considering both Spokane, WA (GEG), and Kalispell, MT (FCA). You can usually save money by flying within the U.S. rather than internationally into Canada. Spokane is a 3.5 hour drive to the ranch and Kalispell is only 2 hours to the ranch. The great thing about Kalispell is that it is at the south gates of Glacier Park, another great add on if you have a couple of extra days in your holiday plans. Whitefish, MT is also close and a great little town.

Tips

Rental Cars: It is not necessary to have a rental car while at Three Bars Guest Ranch, however, it is sometimes more affordable to keep your car than to pay the drop fees. Also keep in mind that any car rented in the U.S. will have to be returned to the U.S. and the same applies to Canadian rentals. You cannot return a rental car to a different country.

Passports: it is necessary to have a passport to travel into Canada.